Liquid dispensing closure arrangement



July 13, 1965 s. CHERBA LIQUID DISPENSING CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT OriginalFiled Dec. 11. 1961 United States Patent 3,194,453 LIQUID DZSPENSINGCLQSURE ARRANGEMENT Samuel Cherha, Totowa Boro, N.J., assignor toContainer Corporation of America, Chicago, ill., a corporation ofDelaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 158,210, Dec. 11,

1961. This application Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 396,956

- 3 Claims. tCl. 222'52i) This application is a continuation of myco-pending application, Ser. 158,210, filed December 11, 1961, nowabandoned.

This invention relates to container closure arrangements, and moreparticularly to a dispensing cap for a container which will allow thedispensing of freely flowable material such as liquid or powder from thecontainer through the cap while the cap remains on the container.

The invention comprehends an improved container closure arrangementadapted to permit the dispensing of a controlled quantity of liquid orpowder from the container even when the cap is in a fully open position.

It is the object of the invention to provide a container closurearrangement having means for controlling the quantity of freely fiowablematerial which can be dispensed from the container through the closurewhile the closure remains on the container.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision, in a containerclosure arrangement of the type described, of valve means adapted topermit the controlled dispensing of a predetermined quantity of freelyflowable material from the container.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from anexamination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspecitve view of a container and closure embodyingfeatures of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURES 4 and 5 are views similar to FIGURE 2, but illustrate modifiedforms of the invention.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elementshave been intentionally omitted from certain views where they areillustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of theinvention, it will be seen that the closure arrangement embodying theinvention comprises a container K, which may be either a tube, jar,bottle, or the like, and a cap C mountable on the container forcooperation therewith.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the container comprises a body, indicatedgenerally at 10, having at one end thereof a preferably integrallyformed neck, indicated generally at 12.

Now referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that neck 12 is generallycylindrical in shape and has a central bore or discharge opening 13communicating with the interior of the container. At its outer end theneck is preferably provided with an annular outwardly facing surface 14disposed for engagement with a complementary surface of the cap in amanner described later in the specification. The neck may also beprovided with an external spiral thread 16 of a conventional typeadapted for threadable engagement with a complementary thread on thecontainer cap.

In order to prevent the accidental removement of the cap from thecontainer neck, the latter may be provided 3,l4,i53 Patented July 13,1%65 with an external, preferably annular, retaining bead 18 preferablyspaced inwardly from the thread 16 and adapted to cooperate with asimilar bead on the cap. In order to provide a seal between the neck ofthe container and the cap the neck may be provided with an internalannular sealing bead 19 preferably disposed inwardly adjacent the outerextremity of the neck.

Still referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that neck 12 includes avalve structure, indicated generally at 20, which is preferably formedintegrally with the neck itself. It is not absolutely necessary that thevalve structure be formed as an integral part of the neck, for, as willbe seen in connection with the embodiments of the invention illustratedin FIGURES 4 and 5, the valve structure can be formed as a separate partof the neck member.

Valve structure Ztl includes a longitudinally disposed generallycylindrical elongated post 22 located centrally of the neck dischargeopening 13 and having its lower portion connected to the neck by aplurality of radially extending ribs or struts 24- spacedcircuferentially from each other to define a plurality of openings 26therebetween.

Adjacent its upper extremities valve post 22 is preferably tapered topresent an upwardly facing annular frusto-conical sealing surface 28 forengagement with a cooperating surface on the cap in a manner describedlater in the specification.

Between ribs 22 and surface 28 post 22 presents a smooth cylindricalouter surface 39 within which has been formed a longitudinally extendinggroove or slot 32, the purpose of which will be described later in thespecification.

Still referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that cap C includes a bodyportion 4t having projecting inwardly from one end thereof an annularside wall 4-2 which is provided with an internal thread 44 forcooperation with external thread 16 on the neck of the container. Also,the interior of the cap may be provided with a re taining bead 46adapted to cooperate with retaining head 18 of the neck to prevent theaccidental removal of the cap from the container neck. It will beunderstood that either the cap or the neck, or both, will be formed of aflexible material, such as plastic, so that when the cap is screwed ontothe neck the cap retaining bead 46 will be forced over the neckretaining bead 18. Once the cap is so positioned, it can be movedaxially relative to the container neck a limited distance to open andclosed positions without being removed completely from the neck.Although it is desirable that the cap and container neck be providedwith the previously described retaining beads to provide a captiveclosure arrangement, it is not absolutely essential to the inventionthat the closure be a captive closure.

Additionaily, the cap may be provided with an annular flange or skirt 48projecting inwardly from cap body 40 in generally concentric relation tocap side wall 4 2 so as to define therewith an annular channel 56 withinwhich is received the upper portion of the container neck when the capis applied to the container. Cap channel 50 preferably presents anannular surface 52 disposed opposite the annular surface 14 of the neckfor engagement therewith, if desired, to provide an additional sealbetween the container and cap; although it is not essential that thesemating surfaces be employed as a seal, because other seals are providedin the closure arrangement.

Extending axially through the cap is a central discharge opening or bore52 having outer, intermediate, and inner sections 54, 56, and 58,respectively, of progressively increasing diameters. Outer section 54 ofthe '3 r at? bore '52 is spaced from intermediate section 56 by anannular inwardly facing frusto-conical sealing surface 59 which iscomplementary to and adapted for engagement with corresponding outwardlyfacing 36 of the valve engagement between the valve structure and thecap.

Thus, any liquid that passes from the container through dischargeopening 52 of the cap must pass through groove 32 of the post. Bycontrolling or varying the width, depth, and length of groove 32 on anyone cap it is possible to control the amount of liquid which can-passthrough the groove of the cap in given period of time, depending uponthe viscosity of the particular liquid involved. Obviously, the greaterthe flow resistance caused by the groove 32, the less the flow rate ofthe particular liquid will be, and vice-versa.

It will be understood that after the cap has been ap plied to thecontainer neck the sealing engagement between neck inner sealing bead 19and outer surface 62 of cap skirt 48 will prevent the flow of liquidbetween the cap and container neck, regardless of whether the cap is inopen or closed position.

When the cap is moved axially inward by rotating it to the closedposition cap sealing surface 59 is moved into engagement with valve postsealing surface 39 to effect a liquid tight seal between the valvestructure and the cap.

As the cap is backed off to open position, surfaces 59 and 28 are movedaway from each other to permit the flow of liquid from the container,through groove 32 in the valve post, between surfaces 59 and 28 of thecap and valve structure, respectively, and out of the end of capdischarge opening 54.

It is contemplated that the container employed in connection with thisinvention will be a plastic tube or bottle of the type which requiressqueezing in order to effect the discharge of the liquid through theclosure when the cap is in open position. Therefore, by controlling thedimensions of valve post groove 32, relative to the viscosity ofthe-liquid involved, it is possible to provide a closure arrangement forany particular liquid wherein, by squeezing the container, onedrop ofliquid at a time can be discharged through the discharge opening of thecontainer cap while the cap remains on the neck of the container.

A modified form of the invention is shown in FIGURE 4 of the drawing,and it will be seen that the primary which may be snugly positioned andretained within the neck bore after the container has been filled.Normally it is contemplated that the integral valve structure ar--rangement will be used when the container is a tube whichcan be filledfrom the closed'end before the tube is closed and that the two piece.valve structure arrangement will be employed when the container is abottle which must be filled frcmthe discharge end. By providing aseparate piece it is easier to fill the bottle and then insertthe valvestructure into the discharge opening of the neck of the container. Tofacilitate assembly:

theva'lve structure may be positioned within the cap so that it-can beapplied "to the container neck at the same time the cap is applied tothe container neck.

As best seen in FIGUREA, the separate valve structure Zla comprises anannular wall or body portion 7t having projecting outwardly from theouter end thereof, and at right angles thereto, an annular flange "/2adapted to seat on the end surface. '74 of the container neck. On itsouter surface flange 72 may be provided with an annular sealing bead '76for engagement with the annular flat inwardly facing surface 78 of thecap to effect a liquidtight seal between the cap and the valve structureof the container neck when the cap is in closed position. Also, valvestructure wall 70 may be provided on its .inner surface with an annularsealing bead 84 adapted to engage the outwardly facing cylindricalsealing surface 62 of the cap skirt 48 to provide a liquid tight sealbetween the valve structure of the con tainer neck and the cap,regardless of the position of the cap.

To prevent the accidental removal of valvestructure a, its wall 70 maybe provided with a peripheral bead 82 which is received within acomplementary groove 83 of the container neck to provide interlockingengagement therebetween.

Like the previously described embodiment, this embodiment may also beprovided with the sealing surfaces 28 and 59 of the valve structure postand cap, respectively, which cooperate to form a liquid .tightsealbetween the valve post and cap at the outer extremity of groove 32 whenthe cap'is in closed position.

A still further modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIGURE5 of the drawing. Like the embodiment of FIGURE 4,this embodimentalsoincludes a valve structure, indicated generally at 22b, which isformed separate from, rather than integralwith, the neck of thecontainer.

The primary difference between the embodiment of FIGURE 5 and thepreviously described embodiments resides in the location of thesealingmeans between the valve structure and the cap. In the embodiment ofFIGURE 5, this sealing means is located at the inner extremity of valvestructure center post groove 32, rather than at the outer extremity ofthe groove, as it is in the embodiments of FIGURES 2 and 4.

Referring to the embodiment of FIGURE 5, it will be seen that the post22!), unlike the post of the other embodiments, has co-axial outer andinner sections and 92, respectively, of different diameters, with thelatter having the larger diameter to formthereoetween a shoulderpresenting an outwardly facing frusto-conical sealingsurface 94 adaptedto seal on a complementary surface 9 60f the cap, to provide a liquidtight seal between the valve structure and cap, when the cap is inclosed position.

Outer section 90 'of post 2212 also presents a smooth cylindricalsurface 39b, adapted for sliding sealing engagement with a complementarysealing surface 6%, and a longitudinal groove 33b cut in surface 36b, sothat when the cap is in open position liquid passing from the containerthrough the cap can pass only through controlled size post groove 32]).

It will be understood that the sealing arrangement previously describedin connection with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 5 of the drawingcould be employed, if desired on the one piece sealing arrangementillustrated in FIGUREZ ofthe-drawing.

In all three of the embodiments of the invention illu trated in thedrawing, there is provided the common feature of a valve structure posthaving a-cylindrical surface disposed for slidingengagemenuwith acomplementary cylindrical surface presented by the, discharge opening ofa cap and having'a'longitudinally extending gro'ove' limiting xthefiow'of liquid between the opposed cylindrical surfaces when the cap isin open position, and means to effect a seal between the valve structureand the cap when the latter is in a closed position.

I claim: l

1. A closure arrangement for dispensing liquid in con trolled,drop-by-drop quantities from a container such as a plastic bottle ortube, comprising the combination of:

(a) a container neck having a central discharge opening extendingaxially therethrough;

(b) a one-piece cap member having a central discharge opening extendingaxially therethrough and being axially movable relative to said neckbetween open and closed positions;

(0) a central post member mounted in the discharge opening of thecontainer neck and having a portion extending outwardly beyond said neckand axially into the discharge opening of the cap member;

(d) said cap vand post members presenting within said cap memberdischarge opening opposed, smooth, cylindrical surfaces cooperatingaxially along a common length to afford liquid-tight, sliding engagementbetween the surfaces during relative axial movement of the cap and postmembers to prevent the flow of liquid between the cylindrical surfaceseven when said cap member is in the open position;

(e) one of said members having recessed from its cylindrical surface arelatively narrow, elongated channel extending axially thereof along atleast said common length;

(f) said channel having a cross-sectional area of sufficient dimensionto provide a flow resistance which, in combination with the viscosity ofthe liquid, permits the flow of the liquid therethrough only in thedesired drop-by-drop quantity, even when the cap is in the openposition;

(g) said cap and post members presenting adjacent one end of saidchannel a pair of mutually engageable annular, sealing surfaces,angularly disposed relative to said cylindrical surfaces;

(h) said annular sealing surfaces being seated against each other whenthe cap member is in the closed position to prevent the flow of theliquid into or out of said channel and being spaced from each other whenthe cap member is in the open position to provide, in communication withsaid channel, a passageway having a cross sectional area greater thanthat of the channel, so that the rate of flow of the liquid from thecontainer through the entire closure arrangement is controlled only bythe channel.

2. A closure arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said annularsealing surfaces are disposed outwardly of said channel to prevent theflow of liquid out of the channel when the cap member is in the closedposition.

3. A closure arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said annularsealing surfaces are disposed inwardly of said channel to prevent theflow of liquid into the channel when the cap member is in the closedposition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,722,802 7/29King 222-521 2,106,028 1/ 38 Heimsch et al. 222521 2,619,265 11/52Jacobsohn 222-521 2,754,036 7/ 56 Boyer 222 548 2,759,643 8/56 Dahlin222--521 2,860,821 1 1/ 5 8 Hartung et al 2225 19 3,010,619 11/ 61Gronemeyer et a1. 222-521 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS I. DEMBO, Examiner.

1. A CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT FOR DISPENSING LIQUID IN CONTROLLED,DROP-BY-DROP QUANTITIES FROM A CONTAINER SUCH AS AW PLASTIC BOTTLE ORTUBE, COMPRISING THE COMBINATION OF: (A) A CONTAINER NECK HAVING ACENTRAL DISCHARGE OPENING EXTENDING AXIALLY THERETHROUGH; (B) AONE-PIECE CAP MEMBER HAVING A CENTRAL DISCHARGE OPENING EXTENDINGAXIALLY THERETHROUGH AND BEING AXIALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID NECKBETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS; (C) A CENTRAL POST MEMBER MOUNTED INTHE DISCHARGE OPENING OF THE CONTAINER NECK AND HAVING A PORTIONEXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND SAID NECK AND AXIALLY INTO THE DISCHARGEOPENING OF THE CAP MEMBER; (D) SAID CAP AND POST MEMBERS PRESENTINGWITHIN SAID CAP MEMBER DISCHARGE OPENING OPPOSED, SMOOTH, CYLINDRICALSURFACES COOPERATING AXIALY ALONG A COMMON LENGHT TO AFFORDLIQUID-TIGHT, SLIDING ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE SURFACES DURING RELATIVEAXIAL MOVEMENT OF THE CAP AND POST MEMBERS TO PREVENT THE FLOW OF LIQUIDBETWEEN THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACES EVEN WHEN SAID CAP MEMBER IS IN THEOPEN POSITION; (E) ONE OF SAID MEMBERS HAVING RECESSED FROM ITSCYLINDRICAL SURFACE A RELATIVELY NARROW, ELONGATED CHANNEL EXTENDINGAXIALLY THEREOF ALONG AT LEAST SAID COMMON LENGTH; (F) SAID CHANNELHAVING A CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SUFFICIENT DIMENSION TO PROVIDE A FLOWRESISTANCE WHICH, IN COMBINATION WITH THE VISCOSITY OF THE LIQUID,PERMITS THE FLOW OF THE LIQUID THERETHROUGH ONLY IN THE DESIREDDROP-BY-DROP QUANTITY, EVEN WHEN THE CAP IS IN THE OPEN POSITION; (G)SAID CAP AND POST MEMBERS PRESENTING ADJACENT ONE END OF SAID CHANNEL APAIR OF MUTUALLY ENGEGEABLE ANNULAR, SEALING SURFACES, ANGULARLYDISPOSED RELATIVE TO SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACES; (H) SAID ANNULAR SEALINGSURFACES BEING SEATED AGAINST EACH OTHER WHEN THE CAP MEMBER IS IN THECLOSED POSITION TO PREVENT THE FLOW OF THE LIQUID INTO OR OUT OF SAIDCHANNEL AND BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER WHEN THE CAP MEMBER IS IN THEOPEN POSITION TO PROVIDE, IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID CHANNEL, APASSAGEWAY HAVING A CROSS SECTIONAL AREA GREATER THAN THAT OF THECHANNEL, SO THAT THE RATE OF FLOW OF THE LIQUID FROM THE CONTAINERTHROUGH THE ENTIRE CLOSURE ARRANGEMENT IS CONTROLLED ONLY BY THECHANNEL.